New Hampshire Sea Grant has awarded $1.2 million to fund six coastal and marine research projects over the next two years. These projects, approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will address topics of particular importance to the state and region, including PFAS contamination, coastal flooding, seafood safety and management, salt marsh restoration, and the northward expansion of marine species.
“New Hampshire’s coast may be small, but it’s a vitally important part of the state for the people who live, recreate, work, and run their businesses on or near the water. These projects are in direct response to the questions, concerns, and issues we’re hearing about every day,” said Erik Chapman, director of New Hampshire Sea Grant. “Sea Grant’s approach to research funding ensures that the projects are connected to local needs, like the continued strength of the seafood industry, healthy coastal habitats, and improved water quality.”
Every two years, New Hampshire Sea Grant releases a request for proposals as part of a competitive research funding process that facilitates the investment of federal funds from NOAA right here in New Hampshire. Funded projects are selected after rigorous review that considers each proposal’s potential to advance knowledge, contribute to the resolution of important problems, and its ability to integrate scientific research with outreach and educational efforts.
A look at six projects selected for Sea Grant funds
These six new projects, based in New Hampshire, will be led by teams from the University of New Hampshire, Dartmouth College, and the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. “Sea Grant funding makes it possible for researchers to tackle problems in local marine and coastal systems that are important to New Hampshire residents and ultimately benefit our communities,” said Adrienne Kovach, professor of natural resources at the University of New Hampshire, who will lead a new study on Atlantic cod that builds upon previous Sea Grant research about the iconic Gulf of Maine fishery.
Projects selected for funding:
- Assessment of geospatial and temporal drivers of coastal flooding and storm surge in Portsmouth, NH (University of New Hampshire led by Michael Routhier)
- Ecosystem-based models to improve oyster aquaculture and restoration (University of New Hampshire led by Cheryl Whistler)
- Evaluating the northern range expansion of blue crab (Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve led by Christopher Peter)
- PFAS bioaccumulation and effects on lobsters in and near Great Bay Estuary (Dartmouth College led by Celia Chen)
- Recovery of biogeochemical function and microbial communities in restored New Hampshire salt marshes (University of New Hampshire led by Ashley Bulseco)
- Understanding the role of diet in the sustainability of the Gulf of Maine Atlantic cod fishery (University of New Hampshire led by Adrienne Kovach)
Information: seagrant.unh.edu/research/current-research
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald. Reporting by Special to Seacoastonline.
